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Design for a cartouche with a putto in an architectural setting

Maker

Attributed to
(artist)
1548-1612

Title

Date of Production

1500 - 1599

Medium

red chalk, graphite on laid paper

Dimensions

Height: 16.4 cm
Width: 12.1 cm

Accession Number

D.1984.AB.32

Mode of Acquisition

Anthony Blunt, Art Fund bequest & grant aid, 1984

Credit

The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

Copyright

Work in the public domain

Location

Not currently on display

Keywords

Label Text

This unusual, and perhaps fanciful, design shows the draughtsman playing with the concept of architectural support and solidity. A putto stands within the corbel, playfully reaching through the pierced sides as though he himself is supporting the weight above. Although it is possible that this is a drawing for an elaborate piece of real architecture, Poccetti was widely known for his frescoed façades, and the design may have been part of a planned illusionistic decorative scheme.

Provenance

anonymous sale, Christie's (London), 26 -27 March 1974, lot 48 (with D.1984.AB.29-31 and 33); purchased there by Professor Anthony Blunt, London (1907-1983); Blunt Bequest via the Art Fund 1984 [annotated sale catalogue in Blunt Archives, Special Collections, box 499]

Exhibition History

Special Display - Renaissance drawings, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 29/01/2009-20/05/2009

Inscriptions

Watermark: Watermark: lower centre: indistinct letters with single lines, looks like "IV".

Inscription: Recto: lower right edge, graphite: "12 x 13".

Collector's mark: none.

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